How much does a food server make in Memphis?
$31,080a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area. That is $14.94 an hour or $2,590 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.94
- Vs. national median
- -12%
- Rank among cities
- 233 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,270Median: $31,080Highest 10%: $46,560
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,270 | $11.19 | |
| 25th | $28,130 | $13.52 | |
| Median | $31,080 | $14.94 | |
| 75th | $34,570 | $16.62 | |
| 90th | $46,560 | $22.38 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Nashville, TN | $33,830 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $30,740 |
| Knoxville, TN | $29,100 |
| Kingsport, TN | $28,430 |
| Jackson, TN | $27,950 |
| Clarksville, TN | $27,510 |
| Johnson City, TN | $27,050 |
Related jobs in Memphis
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,230 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,620 |
| Cook | $38,950 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,530 |
| Cook | $36,340 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $34,740 |
| Cook | $33,170 |
| Cook | $29,880 |
| Dishwasher | $29,700 |
| Bartender | $28,710 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Memphis?
The median hourly pay in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $14.94 ($31,080 a year).
Do food servers make more in Memphis than the national average?
No: $31,080 against $35,360 nationally, 12% less.
How does Memphis compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $30,670, so Memphis pays 1% more.
Where does Memphis rank for food server pay?
233 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,270 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,560 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.